“New Age Spiritualism”
2003 Hot Topics Series
Galatians 1:1-12
August 10, 2003
(Note: This sermon went about thrity minutes. I’ve provided a break where a second sermon could start.)
Purpose: To discover what New Age thinking is, what the Bible has to say about it, and then how to react to it.
I. Introduction – Putting up the mailbox….
…thought I was so smart….thought I had the answer
…found out that I skipped a step and had to undo what had been done
…everything was there, everything looked good, but in the long run the mailbox would
not have been functional.
…so it is with New Age Spirituality
…they claim to have all the answers
…but they miss an important step…the gospel of Jesus Christ
…everything’s there, it looks good, but in many ways its dysfunctional
II. The arguments of the “New Age”
David Jeremiah in his book “Invasion of Other Gods, the Seduction of New Age Spirituality” lays out the six fundamental arguments that may sound familiar, if not understandable, by many of us.
We’re going to look at these six through the eyes of Scripture and see what the Bible has to say…
The first fundamental belief is in the “universality of God.”
In short, God is everything, in everything, on everything, and through everything. There is no distinction between humankind and nature; matter, time, and space are unreal myths that must be eliminated. Instead of an omnipotent God , there is a cosmic force of the universe that exists in everything, whether it be a person, a pig, or a pickle.
What does the Bible say?
…Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Don’t be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything
hastily before God….” Why? “For God is in heaven, and you are on earth.” God isn’t in
the tree, or in the river, or in the corn stalk. He sits in heaven and one day we will be there with him.
…Job 38-39 is another passage which shows God’s omnipotence over humankind. If you
remember these two chapters, Job has spent chapters 23-31 telling God what God should be doing and how much God has messed up Job’s life, and the Lord answered Job in these two chapters with a discourse that started, “Where were you when I created the foundations of the earth…” The Creator is not the created.
…In John 12:44-46, we hear Jesus speaking of His Father when he said, “When a man believes
in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” God is the light for our darkened world. Christ came as a representative of God, so that we would not have to live in darkness. God is the opposite of what this world has become.
God is an independent deity who communicates plans, demonstrates emotion, and has the ability to choose separate from His creation. All is not God. Only God is God… “I am what I am.”
The second fundamental belief is in there is no difference between good and bad.
Since God is everything, then what is bad is God and what is good is God. There is no distinction between the two. Whatever works for you is fine, and whatever works for me is fine.
However, the Bible doesn’t say that that’s fine…
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” God’s glory is not sin!
Matthew 25:31 says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he
will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” It goes on to say that the righteousness of God shown through God’s people will be the determining factor.
I John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare unto you: God is light;
in him there is no darkness at all…”
The Bible teaches there is right and wrong and that God has set standards for us to follow.
The third factor in this belief is that there is a “unity in the cosmos” – meaning we’re all connected by some consciousness.
All reality, including God, humankind, the created universe, earth, time, space, and energy are all connected in divine consciousness. We lose our individuality, and therefore any responsibility, because we belong to this collective….
(ex. Borg – Star Trek Series)
What does the Bible say?
…Jeremiah 1:5 says that we are individuals with individual responsibilities, “Before I formed
you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you, I ordained you…”
…God created us with different gifts and talents…I Cor. 12: 8 “for to one is given the word of
wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith…to another gifts of healings…to another the working of miracles…to another prophecy…to another the discerning of spirits “ and so on… We were created as individuals with Spirit filled gifts that draw us together.
…And there will be a day when we will be called to answer for what we’ve done and how we’ve
lived. In Rev. 20, we read these words, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Clearly, the Bible says that we are individuals with independent responsibility.
The fourth fundamental truth of New Age Spirituality is the belief in the “finality of experience.” – What I experience is what I believe. If I experience it than I believe it.
What does the Bible say….
…I Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “No eye has seen, no ear has hear, no mind has conceived what God
has prepare for those who love him…” We cannot trust our own experience. God works
beyond our experiences.
…I John 2:15 we read, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world---the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his yes, and the boasting of what he has and does (his experiences) comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
Our experience is but temporary, God’s love is eternal…that’s what we trust in…in that we can make reasonable decisions.
The fifth fundamental belief is in a “higher consciousness.”
ex. A time when person who wanted to be baptized, recognized a “higher power” but not Jesus Christ. Needless to say they didn’t get baptized! (but we’re still working with them!)
What does the Bible say?
…I Cor.12:3 – “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God say, “Jesus
be cursed,” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. If they don’t
claim Christ then it’s the wrong gospel.
…Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heave
given to men by which we must be saved.” The name of Jesus has value because it is
through him and him alone we are saved.
…Philippians 2:10 – “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongues confess that Jesus Chris is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” When it’s all said and done, they will know the truth as well.
Recognizing a “higher power” is not enough….we need to believe in our heart, and confess with our mouths, that Jesus Christ, he and he alone, is Lord.
Finally, the sixth fundamental belief is the need for “intercession of higher spirits.”
We covered this topic last week with horoscopes, physics, and the like. So let me leave you with just one passage…
I Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some will abandon the faith and will follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
When we open our mind to the influence of so-called “higher” spirits, we are indeed opening ourselves to those sprits that are lower than Christ. It often sounds good and looks good, but its like chocolate-coated candies with poisonous centers.
So, all is not God. only God is God…
There is right and wrong and that God has set standards for us to follow.
Clearly, the Bible says that we are individuals with independent responsibility.
Our experience is but temporary, we put our trust in God’s love, which is eternal.
Recognizing a “higher power” is not enough….we need to believe in our heart, and confess with our mouths, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
And, when we open our mind to the influence of so-called “higher” spirits, we are indeed opening ourselves to those sprits that are lower than Christ.
The basics of New Age belief do not coincide with Christian belief!
(sermon could end here)
III. How do we avoid “New Age” Thinking for ourselves and our children?
Study the New Age Spirituality…know what it looks like…once we learn what it is, so we can be knowledgable about it.
Selectively monitor your child’s television and movie viewing as well as your own! Just because you have the TV, doesn’t mean it needs to be on 100% of time. Watch what your kids watch, you may be surprised.
Scrutinize the things that you and your kids are reading and the games they are playing. (negative ex. Harry Potter - overall positive message, but with a new age bent toward "white magic."). Our vigiliance sensors should never be taken off-line. we live in a society based on money. Manufacturers will do all that they can to get that dollar, even if it means corrupting our children. (ex. big tabacoo)
Search the Scriptures, and help your children to do the same. When we show our children the truth and they learn how to find it for themselves, then the Bible says, “when they grow old they will not depart from it.”
Seek God’s help. II Thessalonians 3:3 says, “the Lord is faithful, and will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” When we walk and pray or sit and pray, we must pray for protection against the inroads the New Age has made into toys, books, games, indeed the whole culture. But we mustn’t forget that God is stronger, and His Word is our source for protection.
We need to discover what Scripture says about spirituality and explore those riches daily.
We need to avoid any manner of spirituality that does not require commitment to Jesus Christ.
We need to seek to be with other Christians wherever they may be.
We need to look for mature leaders who will guide and nurture us.
We need to be advocates for Christianity, standing up for our faith, resting not in our abilities,
but in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
I Peter 3:15-16 says, “But in your hears set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepare to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Hear again Paul’s word to the Galatians and indeed to us as well… “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ…I did not receive the gospel from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:9-10, 12)
New Age Spiritualism is not for the Christian who wants to draw closer to Christ. In fact, it draws a person farther away from the truth.
Two hot topics down three more to go!
Will you join me in prayer?
#396 – O Jesus I Have Promised
Benediction…
As we leave this place…
May God’s love be above us to protect us,
beneath us to sustain us,
before us to guide us,
behind us to motivate us, and
close beside us, and within us,
to make us able for all things. Amen.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
